I apologize for asking this question here, but this is the place to get an answer to beleive in, without hesitation.

From time to time, in almost regular intervals I receive a letter from IBC Cambridge, England. The last one is they are consider to include me in their list of "Leading Educators of the World 2005". All of the titles offered always sound very attractive to someones ego.

However, they never need a list of references, an updated biography, or something like this, just my name and a payment of 200 to 400 USD to their bank account in order to send me a certificate, a medal, whatsoever.

My question is: has this situation already been described in the "Wizzard of Oz", i.e. somebody is just selling certificates and medals around of no practical value. Briefly, is all this a fraud?

In their web page: www.internationalbiographicalcentre.com there is a "Hall of Fame". I am not sure if this is just a list of those who "swallowed the offer"?

Hoping some of you have already had such experience, thanks for your answer(s)

However, I do know some people, even from the Faculty I am working for as a part-time-job, that not only filled the form and sent the money (hopefully receiving a their diploma, certificate, platinum medal, etc.), but also recommended others to be added to IBC database. Human ego (and nerd factor) is rather high, especially within scientific circles.

If IBC knew some important details from my biography, they would have offered me a nice, say, HP97, instead of the medal and I would not hesitate too much paying for it.

This is something that someone out of moHP would call a "double nerd", or a "nerd nerd", but who cares.

I have been solicited a modest number of times to fill in my bio and other info for one of the "Who's Who" series. These folks then publish a book with the info they get. THERE IS NO CHARGE for this. They always offer to sell you a copy of whatever they produce (often at various levels of fanciness, i.e. gold labelling on the cover - for a price!), but unless you want that on your shelf, there is no obligation.

On the other hand IBC only sells certificates and medals. A potential victim is anyone their letter reaches. However, I do think that IBC found my name in a Who'sWho publication and persisted to contact me.